BUICK LUCERNE 2010 Owner's Manual

E85 has less energy per gallon than gasoline, so you
will need to refill the fuel tank more often when using
E85 than when you are using gasoline. SeeFilling the
Tank on page 6‑10.
Notice: Some additives are not compatible with
E85 fuel and can harm the vehicle's fuel system.
Do not add anything to E85. Damage caused by
additives would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty.
Notice: This vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Do not use fuel containing
methanol. It can corrode metal parts in the fuel
system and also damage plastic and rubber parts.
That damage would not be covered under the
vehicle warranty.Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel might be hard
to find. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel
not recommended in the previous text on fuel. Costly
repairs caused by use of improper fuel would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask an auto club,
or contact a major oil company that does business in
the country where you will be driving.
6-9

Filling the Tank
{WARNING:
Fuel vapor burns violently and a fuel fire can
cause bad injuries. To help avoid injuries to you
and others, read and follow all the instructions on
the fuel pump island. Turn off the engine when
refueling. Do not smoke near fuel or when
refueling the vehicle. Do not use cellular phones.
Keep sparks, flames, and smoking materials away
from fuel. Do not leave the fuel pump unattended
when refueling the vehicle. This is against the law
in some places. Do not re-enter the vehicle while
pumping fuel. Keep children away from the fuel
pump; never let children pump fuel.
The tethered fuel cap is located behind a hinged
fuel door on the driver side of the vehicle. If the
vehicle has E85 fuel capability, the fuel cap will be
yellow and state that E85 or gasoline can be used.
SeeFuel E85 (85% Ethanol) on page 6‑8.
To open the fuel door, push the rearward center edge in
and release and it will open.
6-10

To remove the fuel cap, turn it slowly to the left
(counterclockwise). The fuel cap has a spring in it;
if the cap is released too soon, it will spring back to
the right.
While refueling, hang the tethered fuel cap from the
hook on the fuel door.
{WARNING:
Fuel can spray out on you if you open the fuel cap
too quickly. If you spill fuel and then something
ignites it, you could be badly burned. This spray
can happen if the tank is nearly full, and is more
likely in hot weather. Open the fuel cap slowly and
wait for any hiss noise to stop. Then unscrew the
cap all the way.
Be careful not to spill fuel. Do not top off or overfill the
tank and wait a few seconds after you have finished
pumping before removing the nozzle. Clean fuel from
painted surfaces as soon as possible. See Washing
Your Vehicle on page 6‑104. When replacing the fuel cap, turn it to the right
(clockwise) until it clicks. Make sure the cap is fully
installed. The diagnostic system can determine if the
fuel cap has been left off or improperly installed. This
would allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp on page 4‑41.
The TIGHTEN GAS CAP message displays on the
Driver Information Center (DIC) if the fuel cap is not
properly installed.{WARNING:
If a fire starts while you are refueling, do not
remove the nozzle. Shut off the flow of fuel by
shutting off the pump or by notifying the station
attendant. Leave the area immediately.
Notice: If you need a new fuel cap, be sure to get
the right type. Your dealer can get one for you.
If you get the wrong type, it may not fit properly.
This may cause the malfunction indicator lamp to
light and may damage the fuel tank and emissions
system. See Malfunction Indicator Lamp
on
page 4‑41.
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Filling a Portable Fuel Container
{WARNING:
Never fill a portable fuel container while it is in the
vehicle. Static electricity discharge from the
container can ignite the fuel vapor. You can be
badly burned and the vehicle damaged if this
occurs. To help avoid injury to you and others:
.Dispense fuel only into approved containers.
.Do not fill a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle's trunk, pickup bed, or on
any surface other than the ground.
.Bring the fill nozzle in contact with the inside
of the fill opening before operating the nozzle.
Contact should be maintained until the filling is
complete.
.Do not smoke while pumping fuel.
.Do not use a cellular phone while
pumping fuel.
Checking Things Under
the Hood
{WARNING:
An electric fan under the hood can start up and
injure you even when the engine is not running.
Keep hands, clothing, and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
{WARNING:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts and
start a fire. These include liquids like fuel, oil,
coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer and other
fluids, and plastic or rubber. You or others could
be burned. Be careful not to drop or spill things
that will burn onto a hot engine.
6-12

Hood Release
To open the hood:
1. Pull the hood releasehandle inside the
vehicle. It is located
next to the parking
brake pedal near the
floor.
2. Then go to the front of the vehicle and pull thesecondary hood release to the right. The hood
latch is located under the hood, near the center, at
the front edge of the grille.
3. Hold the latch to the right as you lift up on the hood.
Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps
are on properly. Then just pull the hood down and
close it firmly.
6-13

Engine Compartment Overview
When you open the hood on the 3.9L V6 engine, here is what you will see:
6-14

A.Underhood Fuse Block on page 6‑110.
B. Remote Positive (+) Battery Terminal. See Jump
Starting on page 6‑44.
C. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on
page 6‑39.
D. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank. See Cooling
System on page 6‑26.
E. Radiator Pressure Cap. See Cooling System
on
page 6‑26.
F. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir (Out of View). See Power Steering Fluid on page 6‑38. G. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See
“When to Add Engine Oil”
under Engine Oil on page 6‑17.
H. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of View). See “Checking
Engine Oil” underEngine Oil on page 6‑17.
I. Automatic Transmission Fluid Dipstick. See “Checking the Fluid Level” underAutomatic
Transmission Fluid on page 6‑23.
J. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”under
Brakes on page 6‑40.
K. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 6‑21.
6-15

When you open the hood on the 4.6L V8 engine, here is what you will see:
6-16

A.Underhood Fuse Blockon page 6‑110.
B. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. See Jump Starting
on page 6‑44.
C. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on
page 6‑39.
D. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System on page 6‑26.
E. Remote Negative (−) Terminal. See Jump Starting
on page 6‑44.
F. Power Steering Fluid on page 6‑38.
G. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
under Engine Oil on page 6‑17.
H. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
under Engine Oil on page 6‑17.
I. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake
Fluid” under Brakes on page 6‑40.
J. Automatic Transmission Fluid Cap and Dipstick (Out of View). See Automatic Transmission Fluid
on page 6‑23.
K. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 6‑21.
Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the engine oil level at each
fuel fill. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must
be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop. See
Engine Compartment Overview
on page 6‑14for the
location of the engine oil dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes to drain back into the oil pan. If this is not done, the
oil dipstick might not show the actual level.
2. Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it
again, keeping the tip down, and check the level.
6-17

When to Add Engine Oil
3.9L V6 Engine
4.6L V8 Engine
If the oil is below the cross-hatched area at the tip of
the dipstick, add at least one quart/liter of the
recommended oil. This section explains what kind of oil
to use. For engine oil crankcase capacity, see
Capacities and Specifications on page 6‑118. Notice:
Do not add too much oil. If the engine
has so much oil that the oil level gets above the
cross-hatched area that shows the proper operating
range, the engine could be damaged.
See Engine Compartment
Overviewon page 6‑14for the location of the
engine oil fill cap.
Add enough oil to put the level somewhere in the proper
operating range in the cross-hatched area. Push the
dipstick all the way back in when through.
6-18